AIGA Jacksonville came together Saturday, September 10, 2011, for a great cause—the St. Baldrick’s Foundation event at the Jacksonville Landing. AIGA Jacksonville partakes in a number of charity events around town as a way to give back to the community, but this event was particularly heartwarming, fun and full of surprises!

St. Baldrick’s is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. At events across the country, volunteers of all ages and genders shave their way to conquer kids’ cancer by raising donations and going bald for a cause. This year’s event attracted about 70 shavees and raised an impressive $16,000+ in one day.

During the event, AIGA Jacksonville volunteers donated their time by providing an arts and crafts area for kids, complete with face painting, coloring, games and a collaborative painting project. Kids and their parents stopped by for some creative fun before and after their haircuts. A team of three high school students even decided to have their entire heads painted blue in honor of their school mascot, the blue devils.

With several tables full of art supplies and about a dozen volunteers, AIGA Jacksonville helped provide a touch of colorful creativity to an already wonderful and inspiring event. By the end of the afternoon, two of us even decided to raise a couple of extra bucks and joined in on the baldness. Check out images from the event by visiting our Flickr page.

Be sure to visit aigajacksonville.org for upcoming volunteer opportunities where you can hang out with some great people and get some good karma by giving back to your community. For more information about volunteering with AIGA Jacksonville, drop us a line at volunteer@aigajacksonville.org.

~ bryan, social media chair
(photos by jim ward)